The head of Shambala International that has around 200 international Buddhist centers, Sakyon Mipham Rinpoche is accused of sexual assault upon his women followers according to breaking reports. The Tibetan Buddhist leader has been investigated by an independent investigator who reported to have reviewed some of allegations against the rinpoche.
According to the detailed report on the case published by Tricycle, a leading independent journal of Buddhism in the West also reported that Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche in a letter to the members of the Shambala international, he has apologized for the harm caused upon the followers as a result of their relationships. Rinpoche has also added that he has personally apologized those individuals who have expressed feeling harmed by his conduct.
“It is my wish for you to know that in my past there have been times when I have engaged in relationships with women in the Shambhala community,” the letter reads according to Tricycle, “I have recently learned that some of these women have shared experiences of feeling harmed as a result of these relationships. I am now making a public apology.” adding that he “apologized personally to people who have expressed feeling harmed by my conduct, including some of those who have recently shared their stories.”
While the Buddhist journal reported that coming off the heels of a public apology for what might be perceived as harmful “relationships” earlier this week, a new report is claiming that Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche sexually assaulted multiple women in the Buddhist order that he leads and that members of Shambhala International actively covered up his tracks.
Two women sharing their stories indicated that the Buddhist teacher had kissed, groped and insisted on going to bed while he was intoxicated on certain occasions, another woman shared that the rinpoche’s close attendants also summoned her to his bedroom.